Getting There: New speed limit surprises drivers

Colonie's change in long-standing speed limit on road chided

By Tim O'Brien

Updated 6:55 am, Monday, June 10, 2013

Three people asked variations on the same question this week.

Q: When did the town of Colonie drop the speed limit on River Road between Forts Ferry Road and Rosendale Road and why? The limit's been 40 for at least the 25 or 30 years I've been driving it, but yesterday I noticed the signs were changed to 30. I haven't noticed any increase in traffic, or police patrols. The limit is still 35 when you cross into Niskayuna.

If they're going to make a change in such a long-standing speed limit, they could at least put up some temporary, more-noticeable warning signs to alert drivers they have to change their ingrained habits. (No, I wasn't stopped or ticketed).

— Bill Bubniak, Cohoes

Q: Are you aware of the fact that the speed limit on River Road in the town of Colonie was recently reduced from 40 to 30 with no warning at all? Also, there is still an advisory sign for 35 mph near the intersection of Buhrmaster Road. I am guessing that in the obvious attempt to extract fines, no one thought of removing or altering this sign.

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Hot spots

What to watch for this week:

Interstate 787, Albany: Between exits 3B and 4 in downtown Albany, lanes will be closed southbound.

Northway, Clifton Park: Southbound lanes will be closed on the bridge carrying the Northway over Route 146 at Exit 9 in Clifton Park, for the next several weekends. A single left lane will be closed on the southbound Northway at Exit 9 beginning Friday at 10 p.m. until Monday at 2 a.m.

Latham Circle, Colonie: The bridges that carry Troy-Schenectady Road (Route 2) over New Loudon Road (Route 9) are being replaced. Lane closures on Route 9 and Route 2 will be limited to weekdays until sometime later this month.

Crossgates Mall ramp north to Northway, Guilderland: The bridge ramp will be replaced. The ramp will mostly remain open, but at a reduced width, allowing passenger vehicles to use the ramp.

Birchwood Drive, Princetown: A project to remove the bridge carrying Birchwood Drive (Schenectady County Road 66) over Interstate 88 is under way. The bridge will be closed to traffic.

Western Gateway Bridge, Scotia to Schenectady: One lane will be closed in each direction on the Western Gateway Bridge carrying Route 5 over the Mohawk River between Scotia and Schenectady.

Dunn Memorial Bridge, Rensselaer: The right lane of the westbound ramp onto the bridge will be closed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Saturday. The right eastbound lane of the bridge and the right lane of the ramp from I-787 southbound onto the bridge will also be closed. These closures will occur from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Congress Street Bridge, Troy to Watervliet: One lane in each direction will be closed to traffic. One sidewalk will remain open.

Ferry Street, Troy: The street is reduced to one lane between Walter F. Uccellini Avenue and Eighth Street.

Q: On Monday, I was pulled over by a Colonie police officer on that stretch of road. When he told me I had been speeding, I told him the speed limit was 45 mph on that stretch of road. He stated the entire road had a 30 mph speed limit.

I asked him when that changed, and he said, "I don't know." I then asked him if it was a fairly recent change; again, he said, "I don't know."

While I'm actually relieved for many of the bicyclists who ride on that stretch of road because of its rolling hills, I was dismayed the police officer didn't seem to know the speed limit changed or how recently, and issued me a ticket, even though his check of my license must have shown I haven't had a ticket in 10 to 15 years. I was respectful in speaking with the officer (he's just doing his job), and he returned that respect, but I'd really like to know why the speed limit was changed with no advance notice.

After I pulled away, the first speed limit sign that I saw (which was not visible from where I had been pulled over) did indeed state 30 mph, but it was obviously a brand new sign. I noticed the same about the remaining signs on that road until I got to the Forts Ferry Road intersection. I did not encounter ANY speed limit signs on that road from where I got on from the bike path entrance near the county line through the Buhrmaster Road intersection, where I was pulled over by Colonie police.

A: The town of Colonie made the change May 21 to be consistent with the limit on the same road as it enters Niskayuna and because more traffic is expected when the Mohawk Landing Riverside Park opens later this year, town spokeswoman Sara Wiest said. After the inquiries started arriving, the town took steps to better warn drivers.

"The town just really felt it would be better to have a consistent speed limit all along River Road," Wiest said.

When you first cross the Niskayuna line, the speed limit is 30, she said, and Ferry Road also has a 30 mph limit.

"The town is planning to open a new park off River Road later this summer," Wiest said. "It will make access to the park safer for everyone including bikers and hikers."

The change was discussed last November at a public hearing, she said, and not a single person commented.

"Through the years, the town had had some expressions of concern about cars going too fast through that section," she said.

Red flags have now been placed on the revised speed limit signs, and an electronic sign was added heading east into town from Niskayuna near the park to alert drivers to the reduced limit. A sign shows drivers the current speed.

As for the 35 mph sign by Buhrmaster Road, Wiest said, that originally existed to warn drivers going 40 mph to slow down as they neared a curve. When the speed limit was dropped, she said, crews forgot to remove that sign. It has now been taken down.

"Getting There" is compiled by staff writer Tim O'Brien. Do you have a question about transportation? Call 518-454-5020 or e-mail gettingthere@timesunion.com. Include your name, town and telephone number